Device for stacking magazines prior to trimming



Jan. 17, 1956 R. D. EASTON 2,731,036

DEVICE FOR STACKING MAGAZINES PRIOR TO TRIMMING Filed July 3. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l easaer 0. 505m,

INVENTOR.

l I-J BY 0 M Jan. 17, 1956 R. D. EASTON 2,731,086

DEVICE FOR STACKING MAGAZINES PRIOR TO TRIMMING Filed July 3. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J O IIIIIIIIIHIH I 5| INVENTOR.

Jan. 17, 1956 R. D. EASTON 2,731,086

DEVICE FOR STACKING MAGAZINES PRIOR TO TRIMMING Filed July 5, 1951 v s Sheets-Sheet 5 WWW 205527 0. 505m,

.UIJL

IN VEN TOR.

BY 6M4 147 7 GENE V5 R. D. EASTON Jan. 17, 1956 DEVICE FOR STACKING MAGAZINES PRIOR TO TRIMMING Filed July 3, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 6

Jan. 17, 1956 R. D. EASTON 2,731,086

DEVICE FOR STACKING MAGAZINES PRIOR TO TRIMMING Filed July 5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

United States Patent DEVICE FOR STACKING MAGAZINES PRIOR TO TRIMMING Robert D. Eastou, San Gabriel, Califl, assignor to Pacific Press, Inc., Los Angeles, Caliii, a corporation of California Application July 3, 1951, Serial No. 234,959

20 Claims. (Cl. 164-48) This invention relates to the art of assembling flexiblecover books such as magazines and is particularly directed to an improved form of stacking apparatus for plac ing one magazine upon another during the continuous feeding thereof in the course of their manufacture. This invention relates to improvements over that form of stacking apparatus shown in my prior Patent No. 2,236,336, issued March 25, 1941, for Method of and Machine for Feeding Articles.

Trimmer mechanisms now in use employ reciprocating blades, and because of the rugged construction required for trimming the edges and one side of magazines the reciprocating blades and associated mechanism are relatively heavy. It is therefore desirable to limit the maximum operating speed of such trimmer devices, and in practice it is found that such maximum operating speed is less than that which may reasonably be performed by conventional gathering and stitching mechanisms. Accordingly, it is often desirable to operate the gathering mechanism and stitching mechanism at a relatively high speed and to feed the output from the stitcher in two-high stacks to the trimmer mechanism so that the latter may be operated at one-half speed, trimming two magazines per stroke.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved form of stacker device for use inthe manufacture of flexible-cover books such as magazines, which device may be interposed between a stitcher mechanism and a trimmer mechanism and which may be operated either one-up or two-up to deliver magazines singly or in stacks as desired to the trimmer mechanism. 7

Another object is to provide a stacker mechanism which is simpler in design and operation than that shown in my prior patent and which moves all of the magazines through the same path and does not require that alternate magazines be diverted through a longer path for the purpose of stacking.

Another object is to provide a stacker device interposed between a stitcher mechanism and a trimmer mechanism which may be readily changed from one-up to two-up operation without delay.

A related object is to provide a novel form of stop means for arresting the forward travel of one magazine until a second magazine is stacked upon it.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages wil appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation in diagrammatic form illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is plan view taken substantially on the line 22 as shown in Figure l and showing the power transmission device for operating the trimmer mechanism at either full speed or half speed as desired.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the stacker mechanism partly broken away and shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a side elevation partly broken away taken substantially on the line 4-4 as shown in Figure 3 and showing the mechanism for operating the stop device. 3

in the direction 5-5 as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a side elevation partly broken away showing the operation of the stacker device.

Figure 7 is an exploded view showing the manner of V assembly of the driving lugs to the lug chains.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are side elevations partly broken away showing modified forms of stop devices.

Referring to the drawings, the stacker mechanism A is operatively interposed between the stitcher mechanism B and the trimmer mechanism C. The stitcher mechanism B may be located at the end of a signature gathering mechanism (not shown). While any desirable form of stitcher mechanism may be employed, I have illustrated diagrammatically a device known in the trade as a Sheridan stitcher. The trimmer mechanism C may likewise be of any preferred type, and as shown in the drawings I have illustrated a Sheridan type trimmer having reciprocating knives.

The general plan of operation requires magazines, or books as they are known in the trade, to pass upward in the direction of the arrow 8 from the stitcher mechanism B. For this purpose a stitcher tucker blade 12 pushes the books upwardly between the rollers 9 and between the rollers 10 and 11 against the curved surface 13 on the reject deflector 14. The books are thus moved into position between the upper tapes 15 and the lower tapes 16 which comprise part of the stacker mechanism A. These feed tapes 15 and 16 move about their respective pulleys to advance the books singly between them and to deliver them to the stationary platform or table 17. A stop mechanism generally designated 18 is provided with a movable abutment 19 which arrests the forward motion of alternate books as they are delivered from the moving tapes 15 and 16. A first book strikes the abutment 19 and remains stationary on the table 17 until a second book is stacked on top of it as it is delivered from the tapes 15 and 16. The stop mechanism 18 is then operated in timed sequence to move the abutment 19 to an inoperative position. One of the lugs 20 on the moving lug chain 21 then engages both of the stacked books and moves them to the left as viewed in Figure 1 into the trimmer mechanism C. The stacked books are deliveredagainst an adjustable stop device (not shown) in the trimmer mechanism and the trimmer'knives are then reciprocated vertically to trim the side edges and trailing edge of the stacked books by conventional means. The trimmer knives are operated from a crank shaft 22. through an eccentric strap 23 and pitman 24. The crank shaft 22 is driven in timed relationship with respect to the stitcher mechanism B, the tapes 15-and 16, the stop device 18 and the moving lug chain 21. Change speed devices as hereinafter described are provided fol-changing the speed of the lug chain 21 and trimmer mechanism C'so that the device may be used to transfer books singly, rather than in stacked relationship, from the stitcher mechanism B to the trimmer mechanism C.

Proceeding with the description of the variousparts in greater detail, the stacker device A includes certain of the rollers 10, the rollers 25 and the rollers 26 around which the lower tapes 16 are driven. Power is supplied to the shaft 27 to which the rollers 10 are secured. The tapes 16 pass over stationary plates 28 which are curved at their ends 29 and lie adjacent the rearward end of the stationary platform 17. T he rollers 25 are each secured to an idler shaft 30. The rollers 26 are carried on arms 31 and serve as tighteners to maintain the tapes 16 in taut condition.

The upper tapes 15 are positioned directly above the lower tapes 16, The tapes 15 travel around forward rollers 32 and rearward rollers 33. Power is supplied to the shaft 3=land the rollers 32 are fixed thereon. The

agrsnoss rollers 33 are carried at theends of arms 35 which are fixed to the stationary rod 36 by means of clamp plates 37. An idler roller assembly 38 is provided for maintaining the tapes 15 in taut condition, and as shown in the drawings this assembly 38 includes stationary arms 39 carried on the rod 36. A pin '40 positioned at the outer end of each arm 39 provides a fulcrum for the bars 41. The rollers 42 are turnably mounted at the outer ends of the bars 41. Each of the tapes 15 passes over one of the rollers '42 and under an adjacent roller '42. Coil springs '43 are attached to a pair of the roller supports so that the bars 41 are biased in :a clockwise dircction as viewed in Figure 6, thus serving to tension the tapes 15.

The shaft 34 is carried on parallel arms 44 which are each clamped to the transverse rockshaft 45. The rockshaft 45 is supported in suitable bearings carried on the frame of the machine, and means are provided for oscillating the shaft 45 through a smallangle so that the rollers 32 are raised and lowered during the operation of the machine. .As shown in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings, a crank arm 46 may be fixed to one end of the roc-kshaft 45 and connected through a. link 47 to one arm of a bell crank 48. The other arm of the bell crank 48 carries a follower roller 49 which is adapted to be actuated by means of the rotary cam 50. The bell crank 48 is pivotally mounted at 51 to one of agpa'ir of stationary brackets 52 secured to the frame of the machine. The cam is fixed to one end of the camshaft 5'3, and this shaft is rotatably mounted on the spaced brackets 52. A sprocket 54 shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 is driven by a chain 55 from drive sprocket 56. As shown in Figure 2, this drive sprocket 56 is fixed to camshaft 57 driven by gear box 58. .From this description it will be understood that rotation of the drive sprocket 56 causes the cam 50 to rotate and thus causes the rockshaft 5-5 to oscillate through a small angle, thereby raising and lowering the rollers 32 during operation of the machine.

The gear box 58 also *cOnta'ins a right angle drive mechanism (not shown) for rotating the crank disk 59. The lower end of the pitman 60 is pivotally connected to the crank pin 61 fixed to the disk 59. The upper end of the .pitman '60 is .pivotally connected 'to the stitcher gripper bar (not shown). A cam on the opposite end of the shaft carrying the crank disk 59 operates the tucker blades 12 through linkages (not shown).

The input or driving shaft 62 'of the gear box '58 is driven from a sprocket 63 fixed thereto. The sprocket 63 is driven from sprocket 64 through chain 65. T he sprocket 64 is fixed to the main drive-shaft 'fi which op crates in timed relation with the signature gathering device which feeds the stitciher mechanism B. Also fixed on :the drive shaft '66 are a large sprocket '67 and a small sprocket '63. The sprocket 67 drives the sprocket =69 through chain 70 and the sprocket 68-drivesthe sprocket 71 through chain 72. The sprockets '619 and 71 are each rotatably mounted on the countershaft 73. A hub 74 fixed to the countershaft 73 is adapted to be connected in driving relation with the sprocket 69 by means'of axially extending cap screws (not shown) which may be inserted into aligned apertures 75. Similarly, a hub 76 is fixed on the countershaft 73 and is adapted to be placed in driving relation with the sprocket 71 by means of cap screws 77. One or the other of the sprockets 69 and 71 is connected to the countershaft 73. An idler sprocket 78 carried on an adjustable arm 70 may be employed for maintaining tension in thechain 72. When the sprocket 69 is connected to its hub 74 the countershaft 73 is driven at substantially the same speed as the drive shaft 66. When the sprocket 71 is connected to its hub 76 the countershaft 73 is driven at one-half the speed of the drive shaft 66.

The sprocket 80 is fixed to the countershaft 7 3 arid drives sprocket 81 through chain 82. The sprocket 81 is fixed on aipower shaft 83. A gear 34 is also fixed to the shaft 83 and meshes with a larger gear 85 fixed on shaft 22. From this description it will be understood that rotation of the drive shaft 66 is effective to operate the countershaft 73, shaft 83, shaft 22, pitman 24 and reciprocating knife 86 of the trimmer mechanism C. The speed of operation of the trimmer mechanism C can be changed by connecting either the sprocket 69 or the sprocket '71 in driving relation with the countershaft 73.

A spur gear 87 fixed on the drive shaft 62 of the gear box 58 meshes with a iarger spar gear '53 idling on the stud 89'. :A sprocket .90 "fixed to the spurgear 88 drives a chain 91 which passes over idler sprockets 92 and 193. The chain 91 passes around sprocket 94 in one direction and around sprocket "95 in the other direction. Sprocket 94 is fixed on the :roller shafit 96 and the sprocket 95 is fixed to the roller shaft 27. When the chain 91 is driven by the sprocket 90 the eflect is to drive the roller shafts 27 and% inopposite directions as shown by the arrows in Figure :l. The rollers 10 and '11 which are .fixed to the shafts 27 and 96 respectively are accordingly driven in oppositedirect-ions. 7

Means are provided for driving the shaft 34 from the shaft 27, and as shown in the drawings this means includes sprocket 97 fixed on shaft 27 and arranged to drive sprocket T98 through chain 99. The sprocket 98 is fixed on the jackshaft 100 which :is rotatably supported in spaced bearings :carried on the transfer table. A gear 101 fixed on the iackshaft 1-00 meshes with gear 102 which is rotatably mounted on one end of the rockshaft 45. A sprocket 103 fixed to the gear 102 is arranged to drive sprocket .104 through chain 105. The sprocket 104 is fixed to the shaft 34. From this description it will be understood that the upper tapes 15 are driven from the shaft 27 through chain 99., .jackshaft 100, gears 101 and 102, and sprockets 103 and 104. It will further be ob served that no change in center distance between the sprockets 103 and 104 occurs when the arms 44 are oscillated about the axis of the rockshaft 45 for the purpose of raising and lowering the rollers 32.

The stop mechanism .18 includes a pair of upright standards 106 clamped to the edges of the transfer table 17. A shaft 10.7 is carried on the standards 106 and is provided with a pair of arms 108 which are pivoted thereon. Each of the arms is provided with a slot 109 at its outer end to receive a pin v110 tfixed to the upper end of the movable abutments 19. A rockshaft 111 also extends between the standards 106 and is supported on them for oscillatory movement. A pair of arms 112 is fixed to the rocksha'ft 111, and a pivot pin 113 connects each of the arms to-one of the movable abutments 19. A tensionspring 114is mounted 'oneach of the arms .103 and serves to maintain the .pin 110 in the bottom of the slot 109. An arm 115 is fixed to the overhanging end of the rockshaft 111 and is connected by means of a suit-able'clamp device 116 'to the actuating link 117. A cle-vis 118 is fixed to one end of the link 117 and is connected by means of apivot pin 11? to one end of a lever 120. The lever 120 is pivotally mounted at 121 on the bracket 52. A follower roller 122 is rotatably mounted 'on the lever and engages a two-part acam mem her 123. This cam member 123includes a first plate 124 turnably mounted on the camshaft 153 and a second plate 125 fixed to the camshaft 53. A thumb screw 126 extends through an arcuate slot 127 in the plate 124 and serves toc-lam'pthesplates-124=and 12S is'selected position. The efiective length of the are surface .128 may be varied by changing the relative angular positions of the cam plates 2124 and 125,-as will be readily understood. A tensionspring 1 29 may beprovid'ed for maintaining the follower roller 122 inen'gagement'with the cam member 123. From this -descriptio'n'it will be understood that rotation of the camshaft "53 ca'us'es the lever 120th oscillate about the "pivot 1'21 and thereby act throughthe link 1'17 and arm 115 "to raise and lower the movable abutments 1'9. Adjustments nf-the position of the abutments 19 relative to the rollers25 and 34- as required by different sizes of books from backbone to front margin are accomplished by moving the upright standards 106 forward or back, and by moving the clampdevice 116 forward or back on the link 117 a corresponding amount.

'-T he lug chains 21 extend over idler sprockets 130 which are rotatably mounted onthe jackshaft 100. The lug chains 21 also extend over driving sprockets 131 at the other end of the transfer table 17. Idler'sprockets 1 32 mounted on the shaft 133 may be provided for taking the slack out of lug chains 21. Means are provided for driving the sprockets 131 at a plurality of speeds. .As shown in the drawings, this means includes the change-speed mechanism generally designated 134. This mechanism includes the bracket 135 pivotally mounted on the stud 136 and having gears 137, 138, 139 and 140 rotatably mounted thereon. The gears 138 and 140 are coaxial and are connected to rotate as a unit. Gear 137 meshes with gear 138, while gear 139 meshes with gear 140. When the bracket 135 is in the position shown in Figure 1, gear 139 also meshes with driving gear 141 and thus drives the gear 140 and sprocket 142 which is fixed to gear 140. The sprocket 142 drives the sprocket 143 through chain 144. The sprocket 143 is fixed to the shaft 145, and the sprockets 131 which drive the lug chains 21 are also fixed to the shaft 145. When the bracket 135 is swung in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1, gear 139 is moved out of mesh with driving gear 141 and gear 137 is brought into mesh with driving gear 141. Power then flows from gear 141 through gear 137, gear 138, and sprocket 142 to drive the chain 144. A two-speed power transmission device is thus provided between the driving gear 141 and the driven sprocket 143.

The driving gear 141 is fixed to a driven sprocket 147 which is journaled on a stud 146. The sprocket 147 is driven by chain 148 from the driving sprocket 149 fixed on the trimmer crank shaft 22.

As shown in Figure 7,'the lugs 20 are provided with a key portion 150 which is received within a keyway 151 provided in one of the chain links. .A cap screw 152 extends through an aperture 153 in the lug 20 and into a threaded opening 154 in the chain link in order to secure the lug 20 to the lug chain 21.

In operation, books are delivered to the saddle stitcher mechanism B by the signature gathering mechanism (not shown). The stitcher tucker blade 12 pushes each book up between the rollers 9 and between the rollers and 11. The reject deflector 14 is operated by conventional means (not shown) and causes the books to be deflected to the right over the top of pulleys 11 whenever the book contains too many or too few pages. When the books contain the proper number of pages the reject deflector 14 remains in the position shown in Figure 1. The backbone of the book engages the curved surface 13' on the reject deflector and passes between the power driven pairs of tapes and 16. The tapes carry the book for-,

ward, passing over the curved plate 28, and between the rollers 32 and 25. The backbone of the book drops to the surface of the transfer table 17 and the book is fed forward by the tapes 15 and 16 until the trailingedge is ejected from between the tapes and its forward motion is arrested by contact of its backbone with the movable abutments 19. The book 160 shown in Figure 6 is in the position just described. This book 160 remains at rest on the surface of the transfer table 17 until a second book 161 is conveyed by the tapes 15 and 16 and fed into position on top of the book 160. When the backbone of the second book 161 approaches the upper rollers 32 the arms 44 are raised by means of the cam 50 so that the backbone of the second book 161 is not deflected downward but instead passes over the top of the first book 160 and engages the movable abutments 19.

After the backbone of each book has passed under the roller 32, cam 50 causes roller' 32 to be lowered, squeezing tapes 15 and 16 against the book until it has passed from between the tapes. Each book is positively ejected from between the tapes, and because the roller 32 overhangs roller 25, the tail of each book is fed into a position insuring that the lugs 20 cannot pass beneath the ejected book.

It is important that the second book be delivered by the tapes 15 and 16 to a position above the first book and not to be inserted into the leaves of the first book. For this reason the rollers 32 are raised each time the backbone of each book approaches the rollers 32.

As an additional safeguard against undesirable interleaving of the books, I prefer to provide air jet 162 issuing from nozzles 163 which is directed against the upper surface of the transfer table 17 in the region where the trailing edges of the pages of the books will lie. This air jet has the effect of holding the pages of the first book in tightly closed relationship and thus minimizes the possibility that the leading edge or backbone of the second book might pass between pages of the first book. The nozzles 163 may be mounted on a pipe 164 supported on a stationary bracket 165 and supplied with air under pressure through flexible hose 166.

The cycle of operations is timed so that shortly after the leading edge or backbone of the second book 161 engages the movable abutment 19 a pair of lugs 26 on the lug chains 21 engages the rear ends of the books 168 and 161 which are now stacked with one directly over the other. The cam member 123 acts to raise the abutments 19 upwardly away from the surface of the transfer table 17. The continuously moving lugs 20 then move the stacked books 160 and 161 along the transfer table 17 and into the opening 167 in the trimmer mechanism C. The stacked books engage the'stop means (not shown) customarily provided in the trimmer mechanism C'and after they have come to rest against such stop means the knife 86 operates to trim the pages of the books. Side knives (not shown) may also be provided in the trimmer mechanism for trimming the side edges of the books, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The modified forms of my invention shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 show various devices for moving abutment elements to and from operative position. In the device shown in Figure 8 the abutment elements 190 are moved downward through slits provided in the transfer table 17. The mechanism shown is similar to that illustrated in Figures l-7 but is inverted so that the abutments 1% move downward away from the transfer table 17 instead of upwardly and away from it. Thus the pivoted fol lower lever 120a actuates the link 117a as the cam member 23a rotates. The link in turn actuates the crank lever 115a and thus causes the rockshaft 111a to lower the abutments 19a and then to return them to operative position as shown. same function as the springs 114 described above, namely, they serve to cushion the impact of the books against the abutments by permitting the abutments to have limited rocking motion against the action of the springs. A deflector bar 168 may be clamped with respect to a stationary post 169 on the frame, and this deflector bar has an upturned end 170 which directs the books toward the upper surface of the transfer table 17. I

.In that form of stop mechanism shown in Figure 9, the abutments 19b are mounted for turning movement rather than translation between their operative and inoperative positions. The abutments 19b are fixed to a rockshaft carried on stationary brackets 176. The crank arm .115b turns the abutments 19b'from the position shown to an inoperative. position whenever the cam member 23b actuates the follower lever 12% and link 117b.

In that form of stop mechanism shown in Figure 10, the abutments 19c are caused to swing up and away from operative position with respect to the transfer table The springs 114a perform the 7 17. The abutments 19c are clamped to a rockshaft 1 8%) which is carried on bracket 181. When the cam member 23c is rotated the follower lever 12% actuates the link 1170 so that the crank 1150 causes the rockshaft 1-84) to oscillate.

Suitable guide devices 190 and 191 may be adiustably mounted on the transfer table '17 for guiding the books as they are delivered by the tapes 15 and 16.

When the device is to be operated one-up instead of two-up, additional lugs a aremounted on the lug chains 21 to double the total number of lugs. The bracket 155 is shifted counter-clockwise to its extreme up position to decrease the speed of drive to the lug chains 21 with respect to the speed of drive for the trimmer mechanism C. The sprocket 69 is connected in driving relation with its hub 74 and the cap screws 77 are removed to disconmeet the sprocket 71 from its hub 76. This has the effect of increasing the speed of drive from the drive shaft 66 to the cutter shaft 33. The abutments 19 are raised to their inoperative position and are silenced by any con- L venient means, such as, for example, swinging the crank arm 115 to bring holes 115a and 115b into alignment and then inserting pin 1150 into the aligned holes. This serves to hold the roller 122 away from the cam 123. The books are then fed individually to the trimmer mechanism C and no stacking occurs. Each time a book is delivered to the transfer table 17 by the tapes 15 and 16, one of the lugs 29 or 20a engages the trailing edge-of the book and carries it to the trimmer C. The mechanism ray thus be operated one-up when desired and may quickly be changed-over from one-up'to two-up operation, and vice versa.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for feeding articles such as magazines from a first mechanism which performs work on the articles singly and individually to a second mechanism which performs work on the articles when stacked in groups, comprising in combination: a transfer table, continuously operating upper and lower feed tapes for moving a series of articles between them singly to a stacking position on said transfer table, the surface of the transfer table being below the level of delivery of the articles from the feed tapes, so that the articles drop by gravity in stacking position, means for cyclically raising the delivery end of the upper feed tape, stop means for arresting forward motion of each article at said stacking position, means for cyclically moving the stop means to an inoperative position in timed relationship with the raising movement of the upper feed tape, and conveyor means for moving articles in stacked groups to said second mechanism.

2. Apparatus for feeding articles such as magazines from a first mechanism which performs work on the articles singly and individually to a second mechanism which performs work on the articles when stacked in groups, comprising in combination: a transfer table, continuously operating upper and lower feed tapes for moving a series of articles between them singly to a stacking position on said transfer table, the upper feed tape passing over a roller at its delivery end, means for cyclically raising said roller, the surface of the transfer table being below the level of delivery of the articles from the feed tapes, so that the articles drop by gravity in stacking position, selectively operable stop means for arresting forward motion of each article at said stacking position, means for cyclically moving the stop means to an inoperative position, means for actuating the latter said means and the roller raising means in timed relationship, and continuously operating conveyor means having spaced lugs thereon for moving articles either singly 'or in stacked groups to said second mechanism.

3. Apparatus for feeding articles such as n'ragazines from a first mechanism which performs work on "the articles singly and individually to a second mechanism which performs work on the articles either singly or when stacked in groups, comprising in combination: a transfer table, continuously operating feed means for moving a series of articles singly to a stacking position on said transfer table, stop means for arresting forward motion of each article at said stacking position to form a stack, means forcyclically moving the stop means 'to an inoperative position, means for rendering the stop means totally inoperable so as to eliminate stacking, conveyor means for moving article's either singly or in stacked groups of two to said second mechanism, power means for driving the feed means, conveyor means and second mechanism in timed relation, said powermean's including a change speed device for doubling the speed of the second mechanism with respect to the speed of the feed means, when the articles are moved singly to the second mechanism.

'4. Apparatus for feeding articles such as magazines from a stitcher to a trimmer, comprising in combination: a transfer table, continuously operating feed tapes for moving a series of articles singly to a stacking position on said transfer table, the surface of the transfer table being below the level of delivery -'of the articles from the feed tapes, so that the articles drop by gravity in stacking position, *stop means for arresting forward motion of each article at said stacking position to form a stack, means for cyclically moving the stop means to an inoperative position, means for rendering the stop means totally inoperable so as 'to eliminate stacking, continuously operating conveyor chains having spaced lugs thereon for moving articles either singly or in stacked groups to said trimmer, power means for driving the feed tapes, conveyor chains and trimmer in timed relation, said power means including a change speed device for doubling the speed of the trimmer with respect to the speed of the feed tapes and conveyor chains, when the articles are moved singly to the trimmer.

5. Apparatus for feeding articles such as magazines from a first mechanism which performs work on the articles singly and individually to a second mechanism which performs work on the articles when stacked in groups, comprising in combination: a transfer table, continuously operating parallel conveyor chain's having spaced lugs thereon and travelling lengthwise of said transfer table, continuously operating upper and lower feed tapes positioned between said parallel chains, the tapes being adapted for moving a series of articles between them singly to a stacking position on said transfer table, the upper feed tape passing over a roller at its delivery end, means for cyclically raising said roller, the surface of the transfer table being below the level of delivery of the articles from the feed tapes, so that the article's drop by gravity in stacking position, selectively operable stop means for arresting forward motion of each article at said stacking position, and means operating in timed relation with the cyclical movement of said roller for cyclically moving the stop means to an inoperative position.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said stop means includes an abutment mounted for vertical linear movement through a slot in said transfer table between an inoperative position below the transfer table and anoperative'position, wherein said abutment projects above said table in the path of travel of said articles.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said stop means includes an abutment mounted for turning movement below said transfer table, and said transfer table is provided with a slot through which the extremity of said abutment moves between an inoperative position below said table and an operative position above said table in the path of travel of said articles.

8. An apparatus as se'tfort'hin claim 1, wherein: said stop means includes an abutment mounted for turning movement above said table, the extremity of said abut- 9 ment being movable between an inoperative position above the transfer table and an operative position adjacent the transfer table in the path of travel of said articles. 9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said stop means includes an abutment mounted for vertical linear movement through a slot in said transfer table between an inoperative position below the transfer table.

and an operative position, wherein said abutment projects above said table in the path'of travel of said articles.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said stop means includes an abutment mounted for turning movement below said transfer table, and said transfer table is provided with a slot through which the extremity of said abutment moves between an inoperative position below said table and an operative position above said table in the path of travel of said articles.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said stop means includes an abutment mounted for turning movement above said table, the extremity of said abutment being movable between an inoperative position above the transfer table and an operative position adjacent the transfer table in the path of travel of said articles.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said stop means includes an abutment mounted for vertical linear movement through a slot in said transfer table between an inoperative position below the transfer table and an operative position, wherein said abutment projects above said table in the path of travel of said articles.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein; said stop means includes an abutment mounted for turning movement below said transfer table, and said transfer table is provided with a slot through which'the extremity of said abutment moves between an inoperative position below said table and an operative position above said table in the path of travel of said articles.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said stop means includes an abutment mounted for turning movement above said table, the extremity of said abutment being movable between an inoperative position above the transfer table and an operative position adjacent the transfer table in the path of travel of said articles.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said stop means includes an abutment mounted for vertical linear movement through a slot in said transfer table between an inoperative position below the transfer table and an operative position, wherein said abutment projects above said table in the path of travel of said articles.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said stop means includes an abutment mounted for turning movement below said transfer table, and said transfer table is provided with a slot through which the extremity of said abutment moves between an inoperative position below said table and an operative position above said table in the path of travel of said articles.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said stop means includes an abutment mounted for turning movement above said table, the extremity of said abutment being movable between an inoperative position above the transfer table and an operative position adjacent the transfer table in the path of travel of said articles.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said stop means includes an abutment mounted for Vertical linear movement through a slot in said transfer table between an inoperative position below the transfer table and an operative position, wherein said abutment projects above said table in the path of travel of said articles.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said stop means includes an abutment mounted for turning movement below said transfer table, and said transfer table is provided with a slot through which the extremity of said abutment moves between an inoperative position below said table and an operative position above said table in the path of travel of said articles.

20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said stop means includes an abutment mounted for turning movement above said table, the extremity of said abutment being movable between an inoperative position above the transfer table and an operative position adjacent the transfer table in the path of travel of said articles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 20,541 Staude Oct. 26, 1937 1,266,737 Wood et a1 May 21, 1918 1,629,233 Streine May 17, 1927 1,780,716 Otis Nov. 4, 1930 1,798,929 Candee Mar. 31, 1931 1,904,613 Braren Apr. 18, 1933 1,955,671 Coyle Apr. 17, 1934 2,101,328 Broadmeyer Dec. 7, 1937 2,205,433 Paulsen June 25, 1940 2,236,336 Easton Mar. 25, 1941 2,387,220 Wehle Oct. 16, 1945 2,424,093 Harred July 15, 1947 2,456,004 Larkin Dec. 14, 1948 2,498,989 Erland et a1 Feb. 28, 1950 2,506,550 Morrison May 2, 1950 2,641,974 Sperling et a1 June 16, 1953 

